Kerala State Film Awards 2025

The 55th Kerala State Film Awards were announced in Thrissur by State Minister for Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs, Saji Cherian. Chaired by veteran actor Prakash Raj, the seven-member jury selected the winners from 128 film entries submitted for the 2024 season. “Manjummel Boys” emerged as the biggest winner, sweeping several major categories including Best Film and Best Director.

Major Awards and Top Honours

Veteran actor Mammootty won the Best Actor award for his stellar performance in “Bramayugam”, while Shamla Hamza bagged the Best Actress award for “Feminichi Fathima”. The Best Film honour went to “Manjummel Boys”, directed by Chidambaram S Poduval, who also received the Best Director award. The Best Second Film was awarded to “Feminichi Fathima” and “Premalu” won Best Popular Film.

Technical and Artistic Categories

The awards recognised excellence across all aspects of filmmaking. “Manjummel Boys” led in several categories such as Best Cinematography (Shyju Khalid), Best Production Design (Ajayan Chalissery), Best Original Screenplay (Chidambaram S Poduval), Best Sound Design, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Lyricist (Vedan). Sushin Shyam won Best Music Director for “Bougainvillea”, and Christo Xavier received Best Background Score for “Bramayugam”.

Full Winners List – Kerala State Film Awards 2025

• Best Film: Manjummel Boys
• Best Actor: Mammootty, Bramayugam
• Best Actress: Shamla Hamza, Feminichi Fathima
• Best Director: Chidambaram S Poduval, Manjummel Boys
• Best Second Film: Feminichi Fathima
• Best Debut Director: Fasil Muhammed, Feminichi Fathima
• Best Popular Film: Premalu
• Best Character Artist (F): Lijomol Jose, Nadanna Sambhavam
• Best Character Artist (M): Soubin Shahir (Manjummel Boys), Sidharth Bharathan (Bramayugam)
• Special Jury Award: Asif Ali, Tovino Thomas, Darshana Rajendran, Jyothirmayi, Paradise
• Best Screenwriter: Prasanna Vithanage, Paradise
• Best Original Screenplay: Chidambaram S Poduval, Manjummel Boys
• Best Adapted Screenplay: Lajo Jose and Amal Neerad, Bougainvillea
• Best Music Director: Sushin Shyam, Bougainvillea
• Best Background Score: Christo Xavier, Bramayugam
• Best Lyricist: Vedan, “Kuthanthram” from Manjummel Boys
• Best Playback Singer (F): Zeba Tommy, “Aarorum” (Am Ah)
• Best Playback Singer (M): KS Harisankar, “Kiliye” (ARM)
• Best Editor: Sooraj ES, Kishkindha Kaandam
• Best Cinematography: Shyju Khalid, Manjummel Boys
• Best Production Design: Ajayan Chalissery, Manjummel Boys
• Best VFX: Jithin Laal, Albert Thomas, Anuradha Mukherjee, Salim Lahir, ARM
• Best Choreography: Sumesh Sunder and Jishnudas MV, Bougainvillea
• Best Costume: Sameera Saneesh, Rekhachithram and Bougainvillea
• Best Makeup Artist: Ronex Xavier, Bougainvillea and Bramayugam
• Best Processing Lab/Colorist: Srik Varier, Manjummel Boys, Bougainvillea
• Best Sync Sound: Ajayan Adat, Pani
• Best Sound Design: Shijin Melvin Hutton, Abhishek Nair, Manjummel Boys
• Best Sound Mixing: Fazal A Backer, Shijin Melvin Hutton, Manjummel Boys
• Best Dubbing Artist (F): Sayonara Philip, Barroz
• Best Dubbing Artist (M): Bhasi Vaikom, Barroz
• Best Book on Cinema: Penpattu Thaaraal – C.S. Meenakshi
• Best Article on Cinema: Maayunna Nalukettukalum – Valsan Vathussery
• Special Jury Award for Article on Cinema: Samyathinte Vistheernam – Noufal Mariyam Blathoor
• Special Jury Award for Women/Transgender People: Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine As Light

Exam Oriented Facts

• Manjummel Boys won Best Film and Best Director awards.
• Mammootty received Best Actor for Bramayugam.
• Shamla Hamza won Best Actress for Feminichi Fathima.
• Fasil Muhammed was named Best Debut Director.
• Premalu won Best Popular Film award.

Highlights of the 55th Edition

The 55th Kerala State Film Awards reflected a balanced recognition of commercial and artistic cinema. “Manjummel Boys” dominated with multiple technical honours, reaffirming its critical and popular success. With powerful performances and strong storytelling, this year’s winners showcased the creative diversity and depth of Malayalam cinema.